Name: Magugu Nyathi

Student Number: 45337322

Assignment 02: Semester 01

Due Date: 25 April 2014

Unique Number: 837898

QUESTION 1

Discuss both the positive and negative effects of a particular scientific advance on a society of your choice. Based on your research, consider whether any constraints should be put in place.

Prepaid electricity in South Africa as a technological advance

Prepaid Electricity is fast becoming a Global premium way of being connected to the electricity provider. Most countries, South Africa included now make use of prepaid electricity and meters to provide electricity to their citizens as it makes it easier for consumers to monitor and control their consumption.

Prepaid electric power metering was introduced in South Africa as a small scale engineering project in the 1980’s (McDonald, 2012). However, its use dates back to 1913 when it was used in mining settlements. In the 1990’s prepaid electricity was introduced in Soweto townships like Thembisa as a way of improving electricity infrastructure in the townships. One positive effect of this technological advancement was a move away from the financial problems caused by the use of post-paid electricity. Post-paid electricity was costly, as it was based on meters that recorded consumption (McDonald, 2012). The reading of these meters, distribution of bills, dealing with arrears and disconnecting consumers who failed to pay proved to be very difficult. Residents in Thembisa first responded by destroying prepaid meters, while the Thembisa council responded by protecting the prepaid meter infrastructure.

Name: Magugu Nyathi

Student Number: 45337322

Assignment 02: Semester 01

Due Date: 25 April 2014

Unique Number: 837898

This protection involved putting a metal meter cover and an alarm linked to the municipality if there is tempering of meters. In addition the Thembisa Council nullified the arrears owed by households that agreed to install prepaid meters. This increased the installation of prepaid meters (McDonald, 2012).

Prepaid electricity brought with it the advantage of being able to control consumption, avoid owing on electricity accounts and using electricity in a budget wise manner (Malzbender and Kamoto, 2005). However, the introduction of prepaid electricity has been viewed as inappropriate by households that cannot afford to buy the prepaid electricity cards and the fact that the prepaid electricity finishes fast. Households that cannot afford to buy enough units often, end up without electricity towards the end of the month (Malzbender and Kamoto, 2005). Not-withstanding these disadvantages prepaid electricity meters have reduced financial problems caused by fraudulent illegal connection of post-paid meters that had overhead cables that could be tempered with easily (Malzbender and Kamoto, 2005).

Prepaid electricity also allows for energy saving. Post-paid electricity was disconnected when household failed to pay their electricity bills. Prepaid electricity has brought with it reductions in power disconnections and increased accountability of households in terms of careful usage of electricity (Miyogo et al., 2013). In general electricity has brought with it the advantage of refrigeration, better methods of cooking, better transmission of information and studying at night, amongst other advantages. However the pricing of electricity can make it

Name: Magugu Nyathi

Student Number: 45337322

Assignment 02: Semester 01

Due Date: 25 April 2014

Unique Number: 837898

unaffordable to other people who are forced to live without electricity or resort to usage of unsafe energy methods (McDonald, 2012).

As much as the prepaid mode of electricity is being accepted as important in careful consumption and budgeting, some people are not satisfied with it. It is undisputable that prepaid electricity allows people to manage their usage accurately and carefully. The buying of the units has also been made easy since electricity vouchers are available in shops, banking atms, cell phones and via the internet (McDonald, 2012).

In conclusion it is my view that although prepaid electricity is an innovation that allows consumers to buy electricity before usage, countries should consider enacting standard guidelines and regulations on installing these metered machines. Furthermore this innovation may be a problem for poor households as it may require a bank account, an ATM, or a dedicated machine and sometimes shops to reload credit. Without this infrastructure, the prepayment could be difficult.

Reference List

Malzbender, D. & Kamoto, B. (2005). Domestic electricity provision in the democratic South Africa. The Nordic Africa Institute’s conflicting forms of citizenship programme. South Africa: University of Pretoria.

McDonald, D. A. (2012). Electricity capitalism: Recolonising Africa on the power grid. South Africa: Routledge.

Miyogo, C., Ondieki, N. & Nashappi, N. G. (2013). An assessment of the effect of prepaid service transition in electricity bill payment on KP customers, a survey of Kenya power, West Kenya Kisumi. American international journal of contemporary research, 3(9), 88-97.